When making arrangements, you should:
- make them in advance with a registrar, if you’re having a civil ceremony
- contact the person performing the ceremony before completing any forms or documents
- arrange for witnesses
You can read more on mygov.scot about:
For your ceremony, you’ll need to arrange a place, date and time. Ceremonies in Scotland may take place at any indoor or outdoor location providing it is accessible to your chosen celebrant or registrar.
Make advance arrangements with a registrar
For a civil marriage or civil partnership registration, make advance arrangements with the registrar in the local authority area where you intend to marry or register your civil partnership.
This is particularly important if the ceremony is to be held in a popular area.
Contact the person performing the ceremony
Contact the person performing the marriage before completing any forms, to make sure you have arrangements agreed first.
Let the person performing the ceremony or registration know if you change your plans or decide to postpone.
Booking the registrar is not the same as submitting notice. You’ll still need to complete the appropriate forms.
Arrange witnesses
Arrange for two people aged 16 years or over to be present at your marriage or civil partnership, to act as witnesses. You’ll need this for all types or ceremony or registration.
Surprise ceremonies
A ‘surprise’ marriage or civil partnership is not possible in Scotland.
By law both parties to the registration of the civil partnership are required to submit notice forms to the registrar of the local authority or district in which the registration is to take place.
This means both parties must:
- be aware of this
- independently complete and sign the declaration on the form
Failure to give proper notice can result in a marriage or registration being postponed, or prevented from proceeding.
